"Bellaire Bridge"

Goods from the East were shipped over the B&O RR to Benwood, Va., Now Benwood, W.Va., the goods were unloaded onto the Bensen Ferry to cross the Ohio River to Bellaire, Ohio, then reloaded on the Central Ohio RR , then across the state Ohio, onto the Indiana Central RR section to Indianapolis, then to all points south.

"The need for a Bridge"

Interruption and delay moving goods between Benwood and Bellaire during this period demonstrated the need for a railroad bridge. This called for the erection of a structure to cross the Ohio River. Before the Civil War ended in 1865 promoters had obtained an agreement between B&O RR and the C.O. RR to share the coast of the construction of the bridge, two-thirds and one-third, respectively.

"The Arcade"

The stone and numerous Irish stone masons reached Bellaire about the same time in 1865. Using local Ohio sandstone the masons cut 43 perfect arches, 35 feet from the ground, extending three quarters of a mile in a curve, on a grade of 60 feet to a mile and constituting an approach for a steel bridge. Men of unexcelled skill and industry cut the stone to fit neatly into 30,000 cubic yards of masonry.

Views of the Arcade from East to West.

Union St. - Union St.- Belmont St. - Belmont St.- Guernsey St. -Pipe Yard

The arcade was completed and dedicated in 1870. The arcade and the bridge were completed the following year, at a cost of $1,500,000. A bargain as the bridge is still in use today.

The Key Stone is located on the north side of the Union Street arch.

"The Steel Bridge"

The bridge consists of 11 spans, 6 truss and 5 girder sections. the Steel girder sections on the east end of the bridge also curve to the south joining the B&O north-south main line at the Benwood Junction. Just north of the old Benwood Roundhouse and Yards.

"Adding tracks to the North"

As the area developed to the north of the Bellaire area, Wheeling Steel, coal mines, and manufacturing, more tracks were needed. In the early 1900's a new section was added to the Arcade. It was of all steel construction and originally had two sets of tracks, the east section was removed in the early 50's, but remnants still remain.

With the construction of the bridge the Central Ohio RR converted from Ohio Broad Gauge to US standard gauge.

* The Central Ohio RR was originally built to Ohio Broad Gauge standards in 1853 at 4'-10"
The B&O was built to US standard gauge at 4'- 8-1/2"
The Central Ohio was re-gauged to the US standard gauge Between 1866 and 1869 prior to the completion of the Bellaire, Ohio to Benwood, W.Va., B&O bridge in 1870.

* Thanks to William Logan for the above information.

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